Monday, January 25, 2010

MUSEUM OF OBSOLETE INSTRUMENTS: THE GLASS HARMONICA

No, not that kind of harmonica. The glass harmonica aka armonica, invented by Ben Franklin in the 1700s (yes, that Ben Franklin), and played by dipping ones fingers into a water trough and touching rotating glass cylinders, was said to drive men mad, has an eerie, squeaky sound, and is championed by Linda Ronstadt. The weirdest instrument ever made?!?

In the late 1700 and early 1800s it was part of the classical instrument lineup with heavyweight cats like Mozart and Beethoven composing for it. And this 2002 album by Dennis James features Rondstadt briefly, but don't worry, there's no '70s hippie rock on here. Actually the album has that powdered-wig classy classical feel to it, even on the modern compositions. A weird, outer-spacey classical feel, that is.

Here's one song off it for solo glass harmonica that sports quite a haunting melody:

James is a pretty interesting guy. He accompanies silent films on theater organs (which he also restores), Clara Rockmore herself taught him theremin (which he used for a '20s Russian sci-fi film), and plays a variety of obscure glass instruments that I'd never heard of before.

Got the whole album for you here. But beware! A German musicologist wrote: "The armonica excessively stimulates the nerves, plunges the player into a nagging depression and hence into a dark and melancholy mood that is apt method for slow self-annihilation. If you are suffering from any nervous disorder, you should not play it; if you are not yet ill you should not play it; if you are feeling melancholy you should not play it."Dennis James: "Cristal: Glass Music Through The Ages"

Always happy to be of assistance Tim. Just noticed a wikipedia error (wot?!): the Tom Waits song that uses a armonica is "Town Without Pity" I believe, not "Rainbirds," in case anyone out there wants to do further listening.

Very interesting musical instrument. Unusual sounds of glass. Thanx for this post.For those who like glass music I recommend a Russian duo Т.Винковский и И.Скляров (T.Vinkovskiy & I.Sklyarov). Their album Crystal Harmony can be found, for example, at this site http://philka.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=37751Supr